Rising from the Ashes (Andrew) novel Chapter 3206

Guillermo's laughter was bitter and mocking. "Philip, oh Philip, when did you turn into some fortune teller? I'll die? Of course, I'll die, but that won't be for another hundred years or so. Aside from the passage of time and aging, I really don't know what else could kill me."

His voice turned challenging as he added, "You're talking about Andrew, right? I'm asking you. What gives him the right?"

Guillermo slammed his palm on the desk, loudly demanding to know what right Andrew had.

Philip ignored Guillermo's frenzy and said calmly, "Because he now has the power to kill you. Guillermo, you're one of Holtrien's rarest talents. This country needs you, but you're also pulling yourself step by step into the abyss. You never should have touched Reginald and Andrew. Everything about you is great except you're far too arrogant.

"When people slip from your control, you refuse to give up. Instead, you insist on pulling them back. If you can't pull them back, you have to eliminate them. Let me ask you something: have you ever considered that as the player moving pieces on Holtrien's grand chessboard, you've been making moves for far too long?"

He continued, "Even fortunes change. You've played for so long; you will eventually fail. And since you will fail, shouldn't we let a more capable, more brilliant player take over?"

Guillermo's face stiffened, then turned grim. "You want me to step aside and let Reginald and Andrew take my place? Philip, of course, you'd like that because you've bet everything on that father-and-son pair.

"Unfortunately, you're right about one thing: I've been playing this game for too long. How could I willingly give up my position as the player? That bastard Andrew isn't worthy. He might have a sliver of a chance in the future, but right now, he is far from worthy!"

Philip wore an utterly serene expression. "I knew you wouldn't turn back. Farewell, old friend. When you die, I'll come and place a bouquet on your grave. Oh, I can't remember… Do you prefer daisies or sunflowers?"

The last line was, of course, pure mockery.

Guillermo said nothing, turned, and walked out.

The Hearst royal family, which had always maintained an aloof posture, looking down upon all of Holtrien, could finally sit still no longer and was preparing to take action. Conveniently, their goal aligned perfectly with Guillermo's.

If he could not test Andrew's true strength, he would just let the Hearst royal family's people make the move.

Guillermo, already furious, became even angrier and cursed, "You useless fool! Didn't you say that after becoming a martial god, you wanted to challenge Reginald? Why are you even afraid of Andrew now?"

Jose's face darkened. "That slap last time was no accident! The more I think about it, the more unnatural it seems. That kid has probably already reached the realm of a supreme martial god. Last time, I was caught off guard and defeated just like that. I still haven't recovered from it!"

Guillermo's chest heaved with barely contained rage; he truly wished he could slap this prized subordinate to death.